The Ranger

Martinez to run for former council post

Former Riverton City Councilman Lee Martinez is seeking to rejoin the council following his failed mayoral bid in 2010.

On Monday, Martinez filed for the Ward 2 seat now held by Todd Smith.

Martinez did not seek re-election to his city council seat two years ago, instead running for mayor. He lost to Larry Bauman and Ron Warpness in the primary election that year.

Also on Monday, Jonathan Faubion filed for the Riverton City Council Ward 1 seat currently filled by Diana Mahoney.

The race for Riverton City Council Ward 3 remains at one candidate. Councilman Lars Baker filed for re-election last week.

Since the filing period opened on May 17, several incumbents and newcomers have filed for municipal, state and federal offices appearing on the August primary ballot.

Disqualified

In Lander, the House District 54 candidate pool is down by one after a candidate learned Wednesday morning that he was disqualified because he was incorrectly told what district he resides in.

After learning he lives in House District 33 and not 54, Republican John Brown has dropped out of the race. He said he does not intend to seek the House District 33 bid.

As of noon Wednesday, four candidates remained in the House District 54 race.

Andrew Gramlich is the latest to submit his application for the seat. Also in the race is fellow Republican Lloyd Larsen, and Democratic candidates Michelle Hoffman and Bruce Palmer.

Federal office

U.S. Rep. Cynthia Lummis is the first elected federal official in Wyoming to file for re-election. The Wyoming Republican, who filed on Monday, is seeking a third two-year term.

Lummis announced her re-election bid Monday on the steps of the Wyoming Capitol in Cheyenne.

"Washington must learn to live within its means, just as Wyoming does," she said in a news release. "Our theme for this campaign is 'All Wyoming, All The Time,' because that is what I strive to be everyday -- for the people I am so honored to represent -- the people of the great state of Wyoming."

U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., has not announced if he intends to run for another six-year term.

As of noon on Wednesday, there were two candidates vying for Barrasso's seat. Democratic candidate Al Hamburg of Torrington and Republican Thomas Bleming of Lusk filed for the office last week.

Commission

Fremont County Commissioner Dennis Christensen filed on Monday for re-election. The Midvale-area Republican holds the Commission District 2 seat. As of noon Wednesday, the incumbent was the lone candidate in the race.

In District 5, commission chairman Doug Thompson of Jeffrey City is seeking another term. Fellow Republicans Red Fyler of the South Pass area and Jennifer McCarty of Lander are challenging Thompson.

Legislature

State Rep. David Miller, R-Riverton, on Friday filed for House District 55. Fellow Riverton legislator Sen. Eli Bebout, a Republican, earlier submitted his re-election application for Senate District 26.

On the other side of the county, Democratic candidates Carl Leyba and Connie Skates, both of Thermopolis, and Republican Echo Renner of Meeteetse have filed for House District 28. They join Nathan Winters, who submitted his application last week. Winters is a Republican from Thermopolis.

As of noon Wednesday, incumbent state Sen. Gerald E. Geis, R-Worland, remained the lone candidate in the Senate District 20 race.

House District 28 and Senate District 20 consists of the Big Horn Basin and the Shoshoni and Lysite area in Fremont County.

No new candidates have filed for House District 33 since last week. In that race, state Rep. Patrick Goggles, D-Ethete, is being challenged by newcomer Daniel Cardenas, a St. Stephen's Republican.

Similarly to House District 33, there have been no new filings for House District 34 since the filing period opened.

In the race are incumbent Rita Campbell and challenger Lois Herbst, both Republicans of rural Riverton.